“Leadership is not about the next election; it’s about the next generation.”
In today’s political climate, where leadership is too often reduced to soundbites and ceremonial appearances, the people of Kwara South are demanding more than just presence and social media parades. They are demanding evidence-based performance and a verifiable track record.
As the region looks toward sustainable development, improved security, and the protection of future generations, a growing conversation is emerging among stakeholders, elders, and the youth alike: Who among us has truly earned the right to speak and act on behalf of the people?
One name keeps surfacing—not through propaganda, but through measurable and consistent impact—Professor Wale Sulaiman, CON.
A proud indigene of Ajase-Ipo in Irepodun Local Government Area, Professor Olawale Abdulrafiu Sulaiman is an internationally acclaimed neurosurgeon, academic, physician executive, global philanthropist, and techno-politician who, unlike many of his peers, never severed ties with his roots. With a highly distinguished career in Bulgaria, Canada, and the United States, where he rose to the peak of medical excellence as a renowned neurosurgeon and academic, he had every reason to remain abroad like many. But he chose a different path. He chose service over self, home over comfort, and impact over applause.
Long before political office was ever considered, Professor Sulaiman was already investing his expertise, resources, and global network into Nigeria, Kwara State, and Kwara South through policy formulation, healthcare missions, and human capacity development. Through the RNZ Foundation, a non-profit he co-founded with his wife, Mrs. Patricia Sulaiman, philanthropy became not an event but a way of life.
The foundation’s work is not about handouts, but hands-on development. Thousands of residents across Kwara have benefited from free medical treatments and life-saving surgeries, especially in remote communities where healthcare was once a luxury. He has supported health centers by facilitating medical equipment and infrastructure, and has led the training of local medical personnel in Kwara State in his capacity as the Special Assistant on Health Matters to the Governor of Kwara State.
But his impact doesn’t end in healthcare. The RNZ Foundation has created structured empowerment programs for women and youth, including the PWS Widows Endowment Fund, seeded with millions of naira to support widows in starting or scaling small businesses. He has also distributed farming tools, fertilizers, and other resources to boost agriculture and food security. In the education sector, he has provided scholarships through the RNZ Scholars Program, benefiting hundreds of students in universities and polytechnics; supported school infrastructure at the College of Education, Oro; and offered learning materials to outstanding students, making a direct difference in the lives of students across the region.
Importantly, these are not campaign-season stunts—they are year-round, people-focused initiatives rooted in a long-term vision for human capacity building and community development.
At the national level, Professor Sulaiman has lent his strategic insight to health policy, serving in advisory roles to both federal and state governments. His appointment as Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, is a testament to his credibility and influence beyond Kwara State.
And yet, perhaps his greatest strength lies not only in what he does—but how he does it. When communities like Oke-Opin in Ekiti LGA faced prolonged water supply issues, he quietly mobilized partners and teams to respond. When insecurity began to creep into towns across Kwara South, disrupting livelihoods, he lent his voice and supported local vigilante efforts. He is not one for headlines; he is one for healing, helping, and hope.
As the region now grapples with critical issues—ranging from youth unemployment and rising insecurity in Ekiti, Isin, Oke-Ero, Ifelodun, and Irepodun, to gaps in educational and health infrastructure—an important question is being asked:
“If we are to entrust our political future to anyone, should it not be someone who has proven credible leadership, leverage, and capacity?”
To be clear, this is not a campaign endorsement. It is a civic reflection based on visible action and genuine impact. While Professor Sulaiman has yet to declare any political ambition, the question on many lips across Kwara and Kwara South is growing louder: If he steps forward, will we rise with him?
Politics should not be about recycled names, sycophantic displays, bootlicking, or blind loyalty. It should be about capacity, credibility, and competence. Professor Sulaiman has demonstrated all these—not with billboard posters, but with a performance scorecard.
With the 2027 elections on the horizon, now is the time for constituents to think, observe, and question—not to antagonize, but to prepare. If Kwara South is to move beyond token gestures, short-term gratifications, and quick fixes, it needs a leader who blends empathy with execution, global leverage with local passion, and strategic planning with grassroots touch. Professor Sulaiman exemplifies this rare balance.
He is not just a technocrat. He is a homegrown visionary, a son of the soil with global experience, and a leader whose definition of politics begins and ends with the people.
Kwarans are watching. Civil society is taking notes. Traditional leaders are reflecting on their experiences. Youths are asking questions. They all understand that leadership is not about titles—it is a task. And those already performing the task deserve our applause.
The next two years will be critical—not just for aspiring politicians, but for voters, civil society, and every citizen who desires peace, progress, and purposeful governance in Kwara State and Kwara South. We must begin to document those making impact without titles, because if we wait until election day to know our options, we risk making uninformed choices, as usual.
Professor Wale Sulaiman may not be the only capable leader in Kwara South, but his track record speaks louder than his contemporaries. And when the time comes to determine who should sit at the table of leadership, we must ask:
Has this person already shown the will and capacity to serve in any capacity—even when no one was watching?
This is not about politics. It is about preparation—about ensuring that when the time comes, we do not just vote out of habit, but out of hope—and more importantly, out of evidence.
Olawale Timothy
Isin Local Government, Kwara State
08039646872